US20100326329A1

US20100326329A1 - Adjustable Table

Info

Publication number: US20100326329A1
Application number: US12/822,674
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul KIEKHAEFER
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-26
Filing date: 2010-06-24
Publication date: 2010-12-30

Abstract

An adjustable table having a table top having a first dimension and a second dimension, the second dimension being longer than the first dimension is described. At least four legs extending from the table top to a supporting surface are provided. A backing member extends substantially vertically from the table top along one of the first dimension or the second dimension. First and second cross members each extend between and are coupled to two of the legs. A transverse member is provided between the first cross member and the second member and a container extends along the transverse member. The container includes a plurality of weighted compartments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/220,627 filed on Jun. 26, 2009, titled ADJUSTABLE TABLE which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tables. In particular the present invention relates to adjustable height tables. Often, only a small area is offered by decks and patios attached to multi-unit dwellings. Many of these decks and patios are not large enough in area to allow for a comfortable arrangement of a conventional round table and chairs. Also, even a deck or patio of a larger area often lacks a sufficient amount of table surface for the various activities of the given space, e.g., near or alongside the outdoor grill. Accordingly, there is a need for a table that is compatible with the often small decks and patios associated with multi-unit dwellings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the invention unit being used within a standard deck setting.

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing, showing a view of the bottom side of the table frame highlighting the relationships between the detachable backing members, involved brackets, and the table frame.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing, showing the functionality of the parts within the backing member bracket(s) and receiving bracket(s).

FIG. 4 is a side view of the table frame, showing the manner in which the tile(s) are se in the table frame.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the side board 43 in relation to adjustable legs 40 and base member 50.

FIG. 6 is a perspective of view of the side board 41 in relation to adjustable legs 40 and base member 35.

FIG. 7 is perspective view of the underside of the invention unit.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the primary container 60.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention unit being used against a railing in “bar mode”.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the invention unit being used against a railing in “table mode”.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the invention unit being used in the center of a given patio or deck floor.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of two invention units being used modularly, against a railing in “table mode”.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of two invention units being used modularly, against a railing in “bar mode.”

SUMMARY

Some embodiments relate to a table having a table top having a first dimension and a second dimension, the second dimension being longer than the first dimension. At least four legs extending from the table top to a supporting surface are provided. A backing member extends substantially vertically from the table top along one of the first dimension or the second dimension. First and second cross members each extend between and are coupled to two of the legs. The second cross member extends generally parallel to the first cross member. A transverse member is provided between the first cross member and the second member. A primary container extends along the transverse member and proximate to the supporting surface. The container includes a plurality of weighted compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the invention include table that is rectangular in shape; this allows more space for the seating around it to be maneuvered. The table can be used for cooking and serving food, dining, entertainment, or leisure. The table can be accompanied by chairs or stools, because the legs are adjustable in height. The table is freestanding; it can be positioned in an interior area of a deck or patio, or along the perimeter of the space, for example, along the railing when the table is used with backing members. The table is designed so it can be used as a single unit, or multiple units can be used together in a modular fashion. Both, the single unit and multiple units can be used in a variety of arrangements. The bottom of each set of legs may be connected and stabilized by a base member. These two base members each have two feet that depending on the manner in which the table is being used, can be extended to give the table a wider base. Connected between these base members for added stability is a cross member support, and a weighted container to help anchor the table.
Referring to FIG. 1 is the invention 11, which is shown being used on a typical deck or patio, with railing 99, balusters 98 and floor 97. The table frame 10 is comprised of a front board 42, back board 44, side board 41, and side board 43. Shown resting within this frame are tiles 45. The table frame is shown being used with the detachable backing members 20 and 30. Note the top edges of the backing members are flush with the top edge of the railing 99. The height of the table frames 10 is to be set below the height of the rail, in use with the detachable backing members 20 and/or 30, when used next to such a structure. Extending downwards from the table frame 10 are (4) height adjustable legs 40. The bottoms of these height adjustable legs 40 are connected to base members 50 and 35. Resting between base members 50 and 35 is the primary container 60.
Depicted in FIG. 2 are the detachable backing members 20 and 30. Detachable backing member 20 is shown with backing member bracket 22. On the bottom of side board 41 is a receiving bracket 55 for the backing member bracket 22. Detachable backing member 20 with backing member bracket 22 can also be inserted and attached to receiving bracket 65, which is under side board 43. Detachable backing member 30 has two attached backing member brackets 24 and 26, which can be inserted in receiving brackets 75 and 85 respectively. Receiving brackets 75 and 85 are attached on the bottom of the back board 44. Also, shown in the drawing is the tile support board 46, and tiles 45. The tiles 45 rest between the front board 42 and back board 44, and on the top edge of the tile support board 46.
FIG. 3 is a detail of backing member brackets 22, 24, and 26, receiving brackets 55, 65, 75, and 85. Each of these backing member brackets 22, 24, and 26 have a vertical section 51 that is mounted to the back of edge of the respective backing member, by drilling screws through holes 90. The vertical section 51 is connected to the horizontal section 53, which has at its terminus, housing 76, for the spring loaded button 54. The housing 76 is comprised of a top edge 96, bottom edge 95, and (4) side edges 91. A hole 79 is in the bottom edge 95. Shown extending through the hole 79 is the spring loaded button 54. The spring loaded button 54 is attached to a backing 57, which rests against the interior face of the bottom edge 95, keeping the spring loaded button 54 in place within the hole 79, when the spring is not being compressed. The spring 69, rests between the interior faces of button 54 and top edge 96.
The exterior dimensions of the housing 76 of backing member brackets 22, 24, and 26 allow it to fit firmly within the interior faces of the receiving brackets 55, 65, 75, and 85. The receiving brackets 55. 65. 75. and 85 have flanges 61 and 63 with holes 89 for mounting. Side edges 62 and 64 are connected to a bottom edge 66. Bottom edge 66 has a hole 77. The diameter of hole 77 allows for the spring loaded bracket 54 to fit firmly inside of it.
The housing 76 of backing member brackets 22, 24, and 26 can be inserted into the respective receiving bracket 55 or 65, 75 and 85 when the spring loaded button is compressed. As the spring loaded button 54 crosses hole 77 in the respective receiving bracket, the spring decompresses, locking the brackets. The backing member bracket(s) 22, 24, and 26 can be released from their respective receiving brackets 55 or 65, 75 and 85 by compressing the spring loaded button 54 and simultaneously pulling the backing member bracket(s) away from the receiving bracket(s).
FIG. 4 is a detail of the table frame 10, shown is front board 42, back board 44, side board 41, and tile support board 46. The front board 42, has on it's inside vertical edge a tile slot 23 and tile slot pin(s) 21. The back board 44 has a tile slot 25. Tile slots 23 and 25 along with the tile pin(s) 21 hold the tile(s) 45 in place within the table frame 10. To insert the tile(s) 45 into the table frame 10 the tile slot pin(s) 21 are removed, one edge of the tile 45 is inserted into tile slot 23 until the opposite edge of the tile 45 clears the inside vertical edge of back board 44. Then, the tile 45 can be slid to the back vertical edge of tile slot 25. This allows the tile slot pin(s) 21 to be put back in place, and the tile 45 is firmly positioned within the table frame 10. This is to be repeated until all the tiles 45 are in place in the table frame 10.
FIG. 5 shows the main components of the adjustable leg(s) 40 and base member 50. The top of adjustable leg(s) 40 are connected to the bottom edges of the side board 43. The top section(s) 47 of adjustable leg(s) 40, house the interior leg section(s) 17. The bottom portion of interior leg section(s) 17 houses a spring loaded button(s) 88 which extends through the adjustment hole(s) 86, when it is decompressed. The interior leg section(s) 17 slides freely inside the exterior leg section(s) 27, when the spring loaded button(s) 88 is compressed. When the spring loaded button(s) 88 pass the adjustment holes 86, the spring loaded button(s) 88 decompress, locking the interior leg section(s) 17 with the exterior leg section(s) 27, locking the table height in place. To unlock the set position the spring loaded button(s) 88 can be compressed to allow the interior leg section(s) 17 to once again move freely within the exterior leg section(s) 27.
Attached to the bottom of exterior leg section(s) 27 is base member 50. The base member 50 houses retractable base sections 28 and 38, which slide freely inside the base member 50 when the spring loaded buttons 68 are compressed. When the spring loaded buttons 68 pass the adjustment hole(s) 37, the button(s) 68 decompress, locking the retractable base sections 28 and 38 into the desired position with the base member 50. The retractable base section 28 is shown extended, and the retractable base section 38 is shown in its original position. To unlock the position of the retractable base sections 28 and 38 the spring loaded buttons 68 can be compressed and the retractable base sections can slide into the alternate positions. Each retractable base section 28 and 38 has a foot 18 attached to the bottom edge of the exterior terminus.
FIG. 6 shows the main components of the adjustable leg(s) 40 and base member 35. The top of adjustable leg(s) 40 are connected to the bottom edges of the side board 41. The top section(s) 47 of adjustable leg(s) 40, house the interior leg section(s) 17. The bottom portion of interior leg section(s) 17 houses a spring loaded button(s) 88 which extends through the adjustment hole(s) 86, when it is decompressed. The interior leg section(s) 17 slides freely inside the exterior leg section(s) 27, when the spring loaded button(s) 88 is compressed. When the spring loaded button(s) 88 pass the adjustment holes 86, the spring loaded button(s) 88 decompress, locking the interior leg section(s) 17 with the exterior leg section(s) 27, locking the table height in place. To unlock the set position the spring loaded button(s) 88 can be compressed to allow the interior leg section(s) 17 to once again move freely within the exterior leg section(s) 27.
Attached to the bottom of exterior leg section(s) 27 is base member 35. The base member 35 houses retractable base sections 19 and 29, which slide freely inside the base member 35 when the spring loaded buttons 68 are compressed. When the spring loaded buttons 68 pass the adjustment hole(s) 37, the button(s) 68 decompress, locking the retractable base sections 19 and 29 into the desired position with the base member 35. The retractable base section 19 is shown extended, and the retractable base section 29 is shown in its original position. To unlock the position of the retractable base sections 19 and 29 the spring loaded buttons 68 can be compressed and the retractable base sections can slide into the alternate positions. Each retractable base section 19 and 29 has a foot 18 attached to the bottom edge of the exterior terminus.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the underside of the primary container 60, which is connected to the cross member support 48. The cross member support 48 extends between the base members 35 and 50. Also, shown is the relation of the adjustable leg(s) 40 with the bottom sides of side boards 41 and 43, of the table frame 10. Each of the adjustable leg(s) 40 is set back from the bottom corners of side boards 41 and 43. This allows the outside edges of the feet 18, not to extend past the outside edges of the table frame 10 when the retractable base sections 19, 29, 28, and 38 are in their original positions. So, when two or more invention units are being used modularly, the units can be positioned flush against one another.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the top of the primary container 60. The primary container 60 is a rectangular shaped box, with sides 31 and 73, front board 32, back board 34, bottom board 39, and hinged lid 87. The primary container 60 houses weighted containers 33. These weighted containers 33 are plastic, and when filled with water, sand etc. give the unit added stability.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention unit 11 being used in “bar mode” against the railing 99, on the surface 97, with use of the backing member 30. The retractable base sections 19 and 28 are in the extended positions to give the table increased stability. The retractable base sections 29 and 38 are in the original positions, to allow the invention unit 11 to sit flush against the front edge of the railing 99.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the invention unit 11 being used in “table mode” against the railing 99, on the surface 97, with use of the backing member 20. The retractable base sections 19, 29, 28, and 38 are shown in the extended positions to give the table increased stability.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the invention unit 11 being used in the interior space of the surface 97. The retractable base sections 19, 29, 28, and 38 are shown in the extended positions to give the table increased stability.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the invention units 11 and 14 being used modularly in “table mode” on the surface 97, with the backing members 20 of each unit against the railing 99. The retractable base sections 29 and 38 of each unit are in the extended positions to give the tables added stability. The retractable base sections 19 and 28 are in the original positions to allow the invention units 11 and 14 can be positioned flush up against one another.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the invention units 11 and 14 being used modularly in “bar mode” against the railing 99, on the surface 97, with the backing members 30. The retractable base sections 28 and 38 are in the extended positions to give the tables added stability. The retractable base sections 19 and 38 are in the original positions so the invention units 11 and 14 can sit flush against the railing 99.
Although the description above contains much specificity, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the synchronization system has been designed so that it can serve to deliver both very large content items and very small data items of any type to a plurality of users with or without continuous Internet access. While a particular implementation of the system involves using the synchronization system to transfer videos, messages, work flow diagrams, tests, and performance statistics, the synchronization system could be used independently with any one or a plurality of those applications or to manage any type of data transfer over networks. Furthermore, the invention of the team communication platform can be applied to any one or a plurality of numerous team environments where communication and team interaction are important. These environments include, but are not limited to, team sports, healthcare, education, government, and business.
Thus, the scope of the claim should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

a table top having a first dimension and a second dimension, the second dimension being longer than the first dimension;

at least four legs extending from the table top to a supporting surface;

a backing member extending substantially vertically from the table top

along one of the first dimension or the second dimension;

a first cross member extending between and coupled to two of the legs;

a second cross member extending between and coupled to two of the legs, the second cross member extending generally parallel to the first cross member;

a transverse member extending between and coupled to the first cross member and the second member; and

a primary container extending along the transverse member and proximate to the supporting surface, the container comprising a plurality of weighted compartments.

2. The table of claim 1, wherein the second dimension is roughly equal in length to a whole number times the length of the first dimension.

3. The table of claim 2, wherein the backing member is segmented into roughly equal length sections, each section being roughly equal in length to the first dimension and at least one of the sections may be mounted to the table top along the first dimension to couple the table to the other structure such that the second dimension extends from the support surface.

4. The table of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of weighted compartments is configured to hold about ten pounds of a weighting material.

5. The table of claim 4, wherein the weighting material is water.

6. The table of claim 4, wherein the weighting material is sand.

7. The table of claim 1, wherein the primary container is of a length of about the length of the second dimension.

8. The table of claim 7, wherein the primary container comprises a pair of openings configured to receive two legs spaced apart by a distance roughly equal to the first dimension.

9. The table of claim 8, wherein each table leg is adjustable in length.